The bill’s authors pedantically claim that the bill is exclusively intended to protect the right for Arizonan’s to exercise their religion, a right that Arizona state senator, SB1062 bill supporter, and possible talking tree stump Capt. Al Melvin could not convince Anderson Cooper last night was even in danger in the state of Arizona ( video after the jump).

This is the full video of Capt. Melvin’s hilarious, gut-wrenchingly awkward interview with Anderson Cooper, which is totally worth the watch if you are masochistic but really want to see how much (re: little) thought has gone into the making of SB1062.

Not surprisingly, virtually the rest of the country has focused the spotlight on Arizona and the inanity of their “Right to Discriminate” bill, which in practice would protect the right for any business owner to use loosely defined religious grounds to discriminate against anyone — from gays, to Muslims, to other non-Christians, to unwed mothers, to divorcees, to women seeking the morning-after pill, to any group or identity that any religious text or practice has ever condemned. More damningly, the bill protects the right of Arizonans to practice their religion, but also protects the more dubious “right” of Arizonans to never have their religious beliefs challenged by exposure to contradictory evidence, like being forced to observe the humanity of gay Americans.

So take heart, Arizonans. Arizona may be a politically back-water place where racial profiling is considered good state law, where the state coffers are bankrupt but taxes still won’t be raised, where Minutemen are considered state heroes instead of lawless vigilantes, and where a talking slab of granite like Capt Al. Melvin can legitimately consider a gubernatorial run, but it looks like even Arizona’s not stupid enough to sign into law a bill so flagrantly unconstitutional it would never make it past its first federal court challenge.

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Daniel

Now that’s what I call an ass kicking. Go Anderson Cooper. Al Melvin is completely clueless. I about hit the floor giggling during the whole sequence of “There is no Discrimination in Arizona”. I am glad to hear this garbage bill will likely get shot down. There is enough hate floating around in this country without legalizing it.

Jerry

In addition to all the LGBT Asian Americans this would affect, let’s not forget that interracial marriage was once heavily opposed on religious grounds too. If this law passes, a baker could legally refuse to provide a cake for an interracial wedding. Considering we still live in a world where a Louisiana judge refused to grant a marriage license to an interracial couple and plurality of GOP voters in Mississippi want interracial marriage illegal, is it really that hard to imagine?

Absolutely and thanks for pointing that out, Jerry! This bill goes far beyond gay Americans, to virtually any American whose identity was ever targeted for religious reasons. I do think that critics of this bill have missed out in emphasizing that point.